ARTICLES ABOUT KASHMIR BY DATE - PAGE 3

NEW DELHI: The BJP and PDP today formally announced that they are coming together to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir which is likely to be sworn in on March one. A Common Minimum Programme (CMP) covering contentious issues such as Article 370 of the Constitution that grants special status to J and K and the controversial AFSPA is the basis of the alliance of the two parties which will emable BJP to come to power for the first time in the sensitive state. The announcement was made by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and BJP President Amit Shah at a joint media interaction after their crucial 45-minute meeting at the latter's residence here to give final touches to the CMP, two months after the state Assembly poll results threw up a hung verdict on December 23. This will be followed by a meeting between PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who is set to be the Chief Minister, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow after which the CMP will be made public on Thursday, official sources said.

SRINAGAR: After overcoming differences and stitching up an alliance with the BJP to form a government in J&K, the next issue for the People's Democratic Party is whether to join the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. The matter may come up when PDP leader and chief minister in waiting Mufti Mohammad Sayeed meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. While the BJP isn't revealing much, the PDP appears divided on the issue. "Honestly, I don't know and I think the party president and the prime minister must be knowing," Nirmal Singh, a senior BJP leader who is slated to be deputy chief minister, told ET, adding that the state government formation is in the final stage as the two parties have agreed on certain issues.

NEW DELHI: A PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir , headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed , is likely to be sworn-in on March one with the two parties sorting out all issues, including differences over AFSPA and Article 370. To give finishing touches to formalisation of the alliance, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is likely to meet BJP President Amit Shah here tomorrow after seven-week long negotiations between the...

SRINAGAR: Top health officials in Kashmir Valley today admitted that there was no swine flu vaccine available in any hospital of the region, where four persons have died and at least 109 are being treated for the disease. Although they feel that there was no need for mass immunisation, but, at the same time, they admit that doctors and the health staff which takes care of infected patients are at risk and should be vaccinated. "There are no immunisation vaccines for H1N1 virus available anywhere in the Valley," Director Health, Kashmir, Saleem-ur-Rehman told PTI. Rehman said the department was trying to procure the vaccines but "they had dried up". "We had asked the suppliers for the vaccines, but it seems they have dried up. We are now trying to procure them from the open market and are hopeful to get them soon," he said.

JAMMU: Formation of BJP-PDP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir will be announced next week as the two parties have "ironed out" differences on the contentious issues of AFSPA and Article 370 and are giving "finishing touches" to the Common Minimum Programme. Stating this here today, senior BJP leader of the state Nirmal Singh underlined that the announcement is now just a formality as a "way out" has been found on these two issues. "The formal announcement would be made next week," Singh, who is being seen as a prospective Deputy Chief Minister of the state, told PTI here about an elected government awaited ever the poll results declared on December 23 last year threw up a fractured verdict.

SRINAGAR: After nearly two months of negotiations, Jammu & Kashmir is slated to have a government by the end of this month. PDP sources admitted they have clinched the deal finally and it will be formally announced on Sunday. The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) that was finally agreed upon later last night is termed to be a carefully drafted document that takes care of the compulsions the two parties had. "It [CMP] is to our satisfaction," an insider told ET. "Both the issues — Article 370 and Armed Forces Special Powers Act— have been taken care of. " BJP, which took some time in neutralising RSS pressure against the deal, has eventually agreed that Delhi will talk to all the groups, irrespective of their ideologies, including Hurriyat.

SRINAGAR: The weather in Kashmir today largely remained dry but the meteorological department has said the Valley may witness fresh spell of rains or snowfall in the coming days. "There are chances of light rain and snow at isolated places over the state today, while widespread rains or snow would occur from February 24 onward," a MeT department spokesman said. Kashmir witnessed five days of rains and snow last week. He said Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 3.9 degree Celsius.

JAMMU: With the approaching of budget session in Jammu and Kashmir , Governor NN Vohra has asked the Principal Secretary (Planning) to prepare for an interim budget in the event of further delay in government formation. "Governor N N Vohra has advised Principal Secretary, Planning B R Sharma that if it becomes necessary, papers for securing a Vote-on-Account should be kept ready," an official Raj Bhawan spokesman said. He said the governor yesterday held a meeting with Sharma to review the formulation status of Annual Plan for 2015-16.

SRINAGAR: and most other parts of Kashmir witnessed dry weather after five days of intermittent rains and snowfall, with the minimum temperature across the division, including Ladakh region, appreciating, even as the MeT Department predicted a fresh western disturbance early next week. "A fresh western disturbance would affect Jammu and Kashmir from February 23 evening. There are chances of widespread rains or snow on February 24 and 25," a MeT Department spokesman said here.

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra today reviewed arrangements being made for annual Amarnath pilgrimage scheduled to start from July 2. "The Governor today reviewed the arrangements being made for Shri Amarnath Yatra that is scheduled to begin on July 2 and conclude on August 29," an official Raj Bhawan spokesman said. He said that the Governor was briefed about the status of helicopter services for the pilgrims, allotment of langars, tents, shops and other conveniences within and outside the pilgrimage area.